Linux on Sony VAIO mini-HOWTO
Hideki Saito hideki@chatlink.com
v1.1, 16 September 1998
This document explains installation of Linux on Sony VAIO computers.
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Notes
1.2 Notes about different systems
1.3 Update History
1.4 Disclaimer
1.5 What this document all about?
2. Hardware compatibilities issue
2.1 Hardware that not compatible with Linux
2.2 Partially compatible hardwares
2.2.1 Soundcard
2.2.2 Video Card
3. How to install Linux?
4. After all...
5. Little Legal notes
6. Special thanks
______________________________________________________________________
1. Introduction
1.1. Notes
This document first appeared in "Hideki Saito's Homepage" at
http://ryoohki.anime.net/~hideki/
. This version of HOWTO is rewritten for updated information. HTML
version is found in http://ryoohki.anime.net/ hideki/VAIO+Linux.html.
You may distribute this document freely. When you publish it, please
drop me a note; I just want know how this documents are used :)
1.2. Notes about different systems
I've recently received some mail stating that some of contents in this
document is incorrect. It is because some reason, hardware installed
on more recent systems are slightly different than older systems. I
will start covering those information. But since of course, I don't
have every system in here, I would like to ask Sony VAIO owners to
tell me more information about it. This would help me a lot if you can
put [VAIO Information] in the beginning of the subject, so I can take
extra attention to it. Also, please include model number of the
system. If it is notebook, please include that information in a
content, or in a subject. I would like to apologize to ones that got
confused by this document. (Addition: 12/29/98)
1.3. Update History
12/29/98 Added several updates
1.4. Disclaimer
Also most of procedures in this document is tested, I will take no
responsibilities for any problem caused by using any information in
this document. As like in GPL, please try anything in your own risk. I
am not native English writer, and you will find many mistakes in this
document. Please excuse me on those. Any corrections and
clarifications are welcome; please send those to hideki@chatlink.com.
1.5. What this document all about?
In this HOWTO, I will go over how to use Linux under Sony VAIO
computers. The VAIO computers are great, but was not very friendly to
Linux. But this isn't mean that you cannot use it, actually you can!
Throughout this document, I will assume that you own either PCV 70 or
90. Since almost all VAIO models are similar in their architecture
(although newer ones have larger disks, updated video card, more RAM,
etc), many of contents in this document should apply to all VAIO
models.
2. Hardware compatibilities issue
2.1. Hardware that not compatible with Linux
Most of hardwares installed in the system are compatible under Linux.
However there are exceptions of modem, USB Port and MPEG decoder.
Please be aware that you cannot use modem, which should be problem for
some of you. Modems installed in the VAIO is called DSVD modem, which
is the variant of the "Winmodem."
(Addition: 12/28/98) Newer model seems to have normal modem instead of
Winmodem.
2.2. Partially compatible hardwares
The soundcard and the Video card installed are partially compatible.
2.2.1. Soundcard
Soundcard is compatible under Linux with supports of Microsoft Sound
System + Sound Blaster, if you want to use MIDI under Linux, you need
to compromise your sound input capabilities. For this case, cancel
out the Sound Blaster. If you need MIDI, and sound input, you may
want consider buying OSS/Linux, which you can use all of its
capabilities under Linux. The soundcard equipped with the VAIO is
Yamaha OPL3SA, and OSS/Linux has full support to it. It seems like
that the wavetable synthesis mentioned in the specification is really
the soft synthesizer, so you are not missing hardware capabilities on
it. As the time I am writing this, there is the OSS/Free 3.8, which
supports this soundcard under Yamaha OPL3-SA1 audio controller. Please
note that this is not initially installed on 2.0.x. You will need to
download from OSS site. 2.1.x comes with updated version of OSS/Free,
but I haven't tested compatibility with it. If you see that it is
working with this soundcard, please let me know.
2.2.2. Video Card
Videocard is partially supported under Linux. You will have no
problem using it under Linux console mode. If you wish to use it
under X Window, get 3.3.1 or later XFree86, which has support to ATI
Rage. Other commercial X Window system should support this, too.
However, 3D acceleration of this video card will not work under Linux,
as there is no driver for this. (Update 12/29/98) For model number
505, ALSA drivers on XFree86 V3.3.3 or later is compatible.
3. How to install Linux?
Installing Linux on the system will not be big problem. However, you
need to aware that initially, there are one non-DOS partition on the
system. I have no idea what that partition is. It is 400MB
partition, and it is visible by running fdisk. I simply deleted this
partition to allocate it for Linux. And I don't have any problem, so
probably it must be something to do with software installation.
(Update 12/29/98) This 400MB partition is only on older models, it
really supporsed to be another 400MB DOS partition, but Sony made
mistake on it. Please refer to other instruction for general
installation of Linux. The VAIO has nice support that you can boot
directly from CD-ROM, if CD-ROM is bootable. Since the BIOS supports
it, it is what you can use in some distribution. This is nice,
because you can perform floppyless installation. Particularly, Redhat
could boot from CD-ROM. Other distribution like SUSE also claims that
it can boot from CD-ROM. But as I have not checked those yet, I
cannot be sure on that. If that this way of booting does not work with
yours, try checking boot option in the BIOS. Kernel configuration
shouldn't be big problem except for the part to setup soundcard. But
as I covered that issue earlier, I will not talk about it in this
section. The VAIO computer is equipped with APM BIOS, or Advanced
Power Management BIOS, I personally don't recommend that you enable
support to it under Linux. I had problem when I enabled it. (Update
12/29/98) I have received report that with 505, CD-ROM install is
difficult and network install is much easier.
4. After all...
Everything went well? I hope it did. Now your Sony VAIO computer is
one of the best Linux workstation. If you have any problem, I may
have answer to your questions. Please just send those to
hideki@chatlink.com anytime. I will try to answer those as soon as
possible.
5. Little Legal notes
VAIO is the trademark of Sony. All other trademark appeared in this
documents are belonged to their respective holders. The copyright of
this document is reserved by Hideki Saito.
6. Special thanks
I would like to thank to following people, not in any particular
order: Daniel Nunes. If you feel that your name should be on this
section, please let me know by mail. (recentlly I lost big portion of
my mail spool by accident, so it maybe the case)